To be sure, when Edy stepped out on the stage, to the cheers and applause of Infrared's patrons, she launched into that first strip routine that cemented her status as a star.
Clad in an imaginative costume reminiscent of 1950's ladylike gentility a black chiffon dress with bouffant skirt, black patent heels, a pearl necklace, long black gloves Edy opened her act with a cute fifties-style dance, much like what one would see at a sock hop. The music? A nice mix of 1950's rock-n-roll. But the act's controlled decorum didn't last as the music abruptly changed to a funky disco version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Off came the dress, revealing a skintight black leather teddy. Edy wriggled and gyrated to the thumping beat as the audience hooted and clapped their approval.
She grabbed the pole, shimmying up and down as if in orgasm. Still writhing deliciously, Edy suspended herself upside down on that pole; and while in that position, she deftly doffed the teddy, revealing nothing more than the tiniest black latex bikini. Her generous breasts bobbed in steady rhythm as she righted herself on the pole. With one leap, she landed on the stage then rolled onto her belly. Edy then treated the audience to an incredibly sexy "coochie dance", twisting and snaking about on the floor a la Madonna at the MTV awards. Moving her body like a whip, she rose to her knees, allowing those near the stage to stuff money in her barely confining bra and G-string.
As the first time, the audience screamed and yelled accolades as Edy finished her act. Scanning the crowd, she spotted Dave's approving smile along with Maris and the other girls. However, unlike the first time, when she ended her act with a feeling of exhilaration, a wave of nausea came over her. In that cheering throng, Edy swore she saw two very familiar faces, only they weren't sharing in the audience's positive reactions. Why, of all nights, did he have to show up, and with her?
******
"OK, Edy. What got you so spooked?" In the quiet of the break room Maris found a despondent Edy Smith in tears. This was a rare sight, to see the usually controlled Edy in such a state.
Clad in jeans and sweatshirt, Edy relaxed on the chaise lounge as she nursed a cup of lukewarm coffee. She felt it was time for Maris to learn the truth; after all, David knows about Xavier, but there were so many unanswered questions.
"Oh, Maris. Everything is so messed up. Why did Xavier have to show up? And why was he was Amy Tyler? "
Edy went on to explain the true reasons she abandoned a promising music career, and why she ended up at Infrared. Understandably, Maris was a bit shocked but understood completely. Secretly Maris wanted to do something by way of help She didn't want to tell Edy until some suspicions were confirmed.
"And that, Maris, is why I ended up here. Xavier Norman was my music theory professor. I had some problems with a semester project and he offered to help me, but things got out of hand. At first he was so nice to me, and I didn't think much of it. I was grateful for the extra tutoring, but I had no idea the 'going out for coffee' would turn into something sordid."
Edy continued to explain that, as an inexperienced 20-year old junior, she didn't know much about how certain men operated. Xavier was fifteen years her senior handsome, very learned, sophisticated so Edy trusted him completely. He took her to top-drawer recitals and concerts, to five-star restaurants. But all the attention, all the extra "tutoring" came with a price tag.
"Xavier kept pressuring me to be his lover. I've never let a boy get to first base with me, so I didn't know what to expect with a man of Xavier's age."
"Edy," asked Maris, "what happened?"
"We became lovers, simple as that. I never gave it a thought, especially since my project was already finished and I did well on it. I felt I didn't need any more tutoring, but Xavier made me continue the affair. I wanted to break it off because I was getting these uneasy feelings."
"What do you mean by 'uneasy'?"
Edy cleared her throat, took another sip of coffee, then continued. "I felt the relationship was wrong. You know, an undergrad student having an affair with an instructor. I don't think people knew, but I was afraid that word would get out that I was getting preferential treatment. Call it coincidental but I earned first chair violin in the orchestra. All the sudden I got calls to audition for the city chamber ensemble. I felt I got all this attention because Xavier pulled strings. I wanted to earn those honors on my own."
Naturally Edy approached Xavier, telling him she wanted out. No way, said Xavier. "He threatened to tell the dean if I filed charges. He said he'd spread the word that I seduced him, and that he'd make sure I'd never go on to graduate school or study under top musicians."
Then came the telling blow, news that could've served as the damning evidence Edy needed in ending her relationship with Xavier.
"I got pregnant, Maris. I used birth control, but I guess it failed."
Now Maris was more intrigued. "What? A baby? You never mentioned a kid? What happened?"
"I carried the child to term, but he was stillborn. Xavier knew about it but didn't offer any help no acknowledgement of paternity, no money, not even help with medical expenses. Unfortunately, for me, that burden fell upon my aunt and uncle."
"What did your folks have to say about it?," asked Maris.
A sobbing Edy replied," The usual: That I should've been more responsible, that I should've known the consequences of carrying on an affair with one of my professors. OK, so I got lectured, but losing my baby was heartbreaking enough. I had no choice but to drop out of school and support myself. I wasn't going to rely on Aunt May forever, so I just got a job as accompanist at Longfellow High then moved out."
A sympathetic Maris put her arm around a dejected Edy, saying, "Honey, I'm sure you told Dave all this, and I'm glad you me. Hey, whatever happened to Xavier?"
Edy wiped her eyes, saying, "He went on with his life and forgot about me. But I still don't understand: Why did he show up with Amy?"
That was a good question, and even David was curious as to why his soon-to-be ex-wife and Edy's professor decided to drop by Infrared that night. David didn't quite understand it: Amy never stepped foot in the place, and from Edy's descriptions of Xavier Norman, the good professor's tastes usually run to the highbrow. He'd never stoop to patronizing a house of burlesque.
Maris grabbed some tissues and handed them to Edy. Something about the name "Professor Norman" seemed awfully familiar and suspicious. She secretly decided to call on an old friend, but not before she gave Edy a pep talk.
"Edy, here. Dry your eyes and pull yourself together. Tomorrow is your big show, with the special dress and doing Dorine's old routine."
Edy Smith dried her eyes and blew her nose. Managing a smile, she said, "Thanks for listening to me, Maris. I wanted to tell Dave what's got me spooked, but I don't know where Dave is."
To this Maris replied, "I think he said he was calling on his lawyer. Maybe what Amy's pulling might backfire on her. I hope so. Something about that woman isn't right."
******
David rattled on non-stop as Charlie listened. In the quiet and bright warmth of the atrium, the man to whom David owed much of his success took in every word. Maybe there is something David said about Amy and Xavier. Maybe the two have something on Dave or Edy. Whatever it is, Charlie knew David and Edy's current problems had to be rooted in the still unsolved Dorine Delish murder.
"Dave," begin Charlie, brushing back what was left of his whitened hair, sucking in his beer gut, and ogling the attractive nurse who came to administer his meds. David wanted to laugh at this Yep, old Charlie's still got an eye for a pretty face.
After the nurse left, Charlie resumed the conversation. "As I said, when you mentioned Thad Justin, it gave me pause. I mean, I thought the man was long gone, but..."
David leaned forward, wanting Charlie to spill those long lost secrets. Whatever it is, Dave thought, I can take it.
"David, I had a feeling this would come to a head. I never told the cops anything about Dorine's old boyfriend because I knew from the start he didn't do it."
"What do you mean," asked Dave, "he didn't do it? I thought Dorine's boyfriend skipped town after the murder, and from what you've told me earlier, Tom Josten wasn't too keen on Dorine being a stripper."
Charlie hedged but he knew the truth would come out sooner or later. With David's divorce hearing coming up perhaps this piece of information could give David some leverage. It was no secret that Charlie, via Nancy and Maris, was privy to much information, and said lowdown could finally do in Amy's countersuit.
"As I said, Dave, Tom Josten was in fact Dorine's lover, but he wasn't single." He paused for a few moments to gauge David's reaction. Judging from the younger man's wide-eyed expression, Charlie further explained, "I knew you'd react like that. Tom Josten was married but carried on an affair with Dorine. His wife was a little off-balanced, if you catch my drift. He tried to divorce her but she wouldn't agree to it. Alice didn't believe in divorce."
"But," asked a now very inquisitive David, "what does all this have to do with Thaddeus Justin, Amy, and Edy?"
Charlie finally and flatly replied, "Tom and Alice Josten had a son, named him Ian, but the kid was farmed out to a foster family shortly after Dorine's murder. You see, after Tom skipped town, Alice did herself in. Ian was later adopted. Ask Nancy and Maris; they knew about Tom and Alice."
David asked, "But I still don't understand how Edy fits into all this."
"David," said Charlie, "Ian Josten had his name changed to Xavier Norman. He still lives here and is some big shot professor over at the college. As for Tom, he's still in town, too."
David let all Charlie said sink in. It finally made some sense. Xavier Norman was Edy's professor, the very man who sexually harassed her. Xavier fathered the baby which later died. But Edy never filed charges for fear of the repercussions.
And what of Tom Josten? David put it all together: Tom Josten is alive and well as Thaddeus Justin. OK, thought Dave, so if Charlie and Clementine say that Tom couldn't have murdered Dorine, who did? There was still that unanswered question: Why were Josten, Xavier, and Amy at Infrared?
******
In the quiet of a darkened motel room, Amy Tyler and Xavier Norman lolled in bed after lovemaking. She was not a raving beauty, so unlike the glittered and polished ladies of her husband's club. Amy was average height, slender, with pale blonde hair and light blue eyes. Her demeanor, at first glance, suggested a certain shyness, but underneath the staid exterior lay a savage, vindictive woman who rued the day she ever set eyes on David Tyler. True, she loved Dave at first, but it was his choice of "expanding my business interests" that soon soured the relationship. They weren't married two years when David bought the old Pink Flamingo.
At first, Amy thought he would transform the legendary burlesque house into something more legitimate, more sedate, such as a coffee house or cutting edge restaurant. However, when word came back that Dave had entered the world of burlesque, give the art a renewed air of
respectability, Amy secretly seethed. Of course, she supported David in his latest venture, even enjoyed the extra income the club generated, but she knew he knew that their relationship grew more distant.
For solace, Amy filled her days by taking classes at the university. It was
nearly three years ago that Amy signed up for an advanced English literature
class; her instructor was none other than Xavier Norman and the two seemed to
click right away. Actually, Amy's friendship, and ultimate affair, with her
professor would be advantageous for her divorce suit.
It was no secret that David was seeing one of his Infrared girls, and said young lady was the star stripper and one of Xavier's former students.
Xavier Norman, an arrogantly handsome and urbane man whose abundant dark hair, gray eyes, and athletic build belied his fifty-four years, did not wholly love the woman lying next to him, but she became very useful for his own nefarious agenda. True, Edy Smith was his former lover as well as student; she carried his child which died at birth. Not long ago, Edy, once a promising concert violinist, now reduced to taking her clothes off in public and immersed in a love affair with her married boss, wanted to file harassment charges. Xavier laughed at this inane threat, insisting that she initiated the affair and was a willing lover.
Then again, in light of her current profession, and circumstances, no one would even listen to her charge of sexual harassment. Xavier chuckled at the prospect of Edith Smith, grilled by university officials, her reputation trashed. He imagined the questions leveled: Why is she stripteasing for a living instead of doing something more legitimate, more respectable? Why is she a willing partner in an extramarital affair?
The good professor took great pains not to allow his reputation dragged through the mud, which is why he willingly helped Amy in her divorce proceedings. It was he who convinced Amy to contest the divorce, file a countersuit on grounds of adultery, naming Edy as correspondent. Yes, once David Tyler and Edy Smith's names are ruined for posterity, Xavier was in the clear. No one would ever know the terrible secrets laid buried for nearly forty years.
Oh, if only Amy and Xavier knew the truth was on the verge of exposure, thanks to a certain purchase, and the sole and up until now, silent eyewitness to a terrible crime.
TO BE CONTINUED...go to chapter 5
Copyright©2003, 2004 by P.R. Parker. All Rights Reserved.